Study: If You Drink Tap Water, You’re Also Drinking Plastic Fibers

A new study revealed some disturbing results about the water coming from your tap. After testing water samples across the country, research showed that most drinking water is contaminated with plastic fibers.

Orb Media, a non-profit digital newsroom, teamed up with college professors to tests 159 water samples across five continents. Results show 83% of samples – from New York City to Quito, Ecuador – had microscopic plastic fibers floating in them.

The study is the first to show plastic contamination in tap water around the world. Samples came from a variety of different homes, businesses and well-known locations like the U.S. Capitol Complex, EPA Headquarters and Trump Grill in NY.

Where is the plastic coming from?

Researchers aren’t 100% sure where the plastic fibers come from, especially since the amount of plastic pollution has skyrocketed in the last decade, particularly in waterways.

Cities are just learning about this kind of contamination and some are slowing the filtering process down to collect more fibers, but it increases costs. New filters for washing machines are also available to catch more fibers from your wash.

Can plastic fibers harm your health?

Just as researchers don’t know where these fibers come from, they don’t know what they can do to your health either.

Is it safe to consume your tap water knowing there’s likely plastic in it? Can bacteria attach to these fibers and serve as a vehicle for illness? Is the problem getting worse?

The research raises more questions than answers, but the EPA confirms that there isn’t a safety standard for plastic in drinking water, nor is it on a watch list of known pollutants that the agency looks for.

More testing is needed to figure out the impact of these fibers, which are so small they can’t be seen by the naked eye.

Approaching plastic differently

The study points to a bigger problem: America’s love affair with plastic. For the last 50 years, plastic production has increased, with 299 million tons produced in 2013.

Most of the plastic consumed is single-use. A soda bottle, for example, is used once and thrown away. It’s time to curb the amount of plastic we consume.

Refill technology provides a solution that could drastically reduce the amount of plastic that consumer’s purchase. Rather than buying a new bottle of shampoo every month, for example, you can refill a bottle at your local retailer.

With refill stations set up inside retailers, consumers can refill a variety of products – from shampoo to mouthwash.

Consumers simply place the bottle in the refill station and the machine washes, fills and seals the bottle in minutes.

However, retailers need to hear from consumers like you before they’re willing to install refill stations. Sign the petition below to ask retailers nationwide to set up refill stations and help solve the nation’s massive plastic pollution problem.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

It's time to tell retailers and manufacturers that we want new technologies to replace plastic waste.

The government hasn't taken the steps necessary to ban plastic waste so it's up to us - the consumer - to petition retailers and manufactures for change.

The technologies exist to create refill stations at your local retail store so why you haven't seen them? Retailers and manufacturers are hesitant to install refill stations because it's a huge industry shift and, most importantly, they have no idea that consumers want it.

When it comes to change, consumers have to take charge. It's time for you to get involved and tell retailers and manufactueres that #WeWantRefill.

The #WeWantRefill movement is gaining momentum, but more must be done. To show retailers how serious you are about using refill technology, please take a minute to sign this petition to send a clear message to retailers that it's time to refill, not waste.

WeWantRefill Website

We will never share or sell your information. This petition will be sent to popular retailers and manufacturers to show them that we do care about the planet and want change! Occasional updates will be emailed to update you on the progress of the campaign.

Join in the conversation!

Share your thoughts about refilling household products and let consumer brands and retailers know that you want the choice to keep plastic out of landfills!

#WeWantRefill

Did you know that the technology exists for you to refill your consumer household goods in your local store? Everything from lotion to laundry detergent can be transferred cleanly, easily and at a lower cost than you pay now.

What's the hold up? Big retail doesn't think you want it. #WeWantRefill is dedicated to the mission of giving consumers the option to refill household products in local stores. Because our planet deserves better than heaps of plastic laundry jugs.